HB543 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike Ball
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Judges, recusals, appearance of impartiality based on campaign contribution, rebuttable presumption if contribution represents 25 percent of total contribution for election cycle, Secs. 12-24-1, 12-24-2 repealed
Summary: HB543 sets rules for when a judge must recuse themselves if they receive substantial campaign contributions from a party, and creates a presumption based on how big the contribution is.
What This Bill Does
It requires a judge to recuse if a campaign contribution or related election communication from a party before a case raises a clear appearance of bias or actual bias. It creates a rebuttable presumption to recuse if a direct contribution from a party exceeds a certain share of total contributions during the election cycle: 10% for statewide appellate courts, 15% for circuit courts, or 25% for district courts, with refunded contributions not counting. It also allows appeals of denial of a recusal and repeals the older recusal statutes (12-24-1 and 12-24-2).

Who It Affects
Judges and justices: must recuse themselves under the new criteria and may be subject to a presumption to recuse based on campaign contributions from parties connected to the case.
Parties and their associated entities (including real parties in interest, owners of 5% or more, affiliates or subsidiaries, their attorneys, and other lawyers working with the party's attorney): their campaign contributions could trigger a recusal presumption and affect how cases involving them are heard.

Key Provisions
Recusal criteria: a judge must recuse if a substantial campaign contribution or related election communication from a party before them creates an appearance of impaired impartiality or there is a serious probability of bias.
Presumption thresholds: if a direct campaign contribution from a party exceeds 10% (statewide appellate), 15% (circuit), or 25% (district) of the total contributions raised during the election cycle, and was made when the case could reasonably come before the judge, there is a rebuttable presumption to recuse; refunded contributions do not count.
Definition of 'party': includes the party or real party in interest, immediate family, 5% or more owner of the party's business entity, affiliates/subsidiaries, the party's attorney, and other lawyers practicing with the party's attorney.
Appeal of denial: an order denying a motion to recuse is appealable like other final orders, with a 30-day deadline; during the appeal, the trial court proceedings may be stayed if the threshold conditions are met.
Repeal of prior law: Sections 12-24-1 and 12-24-2, Code of Alabama 1975, are repealed.
Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Judges